LAST year the government named an East Lancashire high school as a national leader for improving outcomes for students with the lowest achievement at primary level, for the second successive year.

Then last September national tables ranked it as THE best in the country out of 3,000 state-funded schools.

Those are just two of the reasons why Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School in Blackburn has been named as Secondary School of the Year in the first Lancashire Telegraph Schools Awards.

The award, sponsored by Blackburn College, comes three months after the school received its third ‘outstanding’ rating in a row from Ofsted.

Although it originally opened 30 years ago it was not until 2005/6 that TIGHS became voluntary-aided and joined the family of Blackburn with Darwen schools.

In the past six years more than 95 per cent of its students have achieved five A* to C grades in English and maths, despite a comprehensive intake from some of the most deprived wards in the country.

During the same period, pupils have been involved in more than 60 borough-wide projects and raised more than £200,000 for local, national and global charities.

In 2009, having been designated a National Support School, Tauheedul became involved in the leadership of Blakewater College when its results were the third worst in the country.

Now the new Blackburn Central High School, which has replaced it, is recognised as one of the country’s most improved.

Tauheedul has also been designated a ‘Teaching School’ and an ‘Approved Academy Sponsor’ and received government approval to open a network of schools.

At the same time, TIGHS has trebled in size over seven years, opened its own sixth form and moved to the site of the former Beardwood School.

Principal and chief executive Hamid Patel said of the Telegraph award: “It is fantastic to be recognised in this way and we are delighted.

“We work very hard and so do our students and to get this sort of accolade renews everyone’s belief in what we are trying to do. This is better than a national award because this is about home and it is our local community which is very important to us.”

  • Judges also commended two other schools: Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School, Oswaldtwistle, and Ss John Fisher and Thomas More High School, Colne.